“If you strike us down
now we shall rise again and renew the fight.
You cannot conquer Ireland. You cannot extinguish the Irish passion
for freedom. If our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom,
then our children will win it by a better deed."

We're celebrating
this week with Irish songs. Today's selection is especially haunting, as
it tells about the mourning over the destruction of the old growth forests, and
in particular the ancient Great Oak of Portmore (which stood on the property of
Portmore Castle on the shore of Lough Beg) to build ships for the Royal Navy.

BONUS -
Bonny Portmore - Loreena McKennitt - Any time one can listen to Loreena is
a good time.

"Bonny Portmore" is an
Irish traditional
folk song which laments the demise of
Ireland's
old oak
forests, specifically the Great Oak of Portmore or the
Portmore Ornament Tree, which fell in a windstorm in 1760 and was
subsequently used for
shipbuilding and other purposes.

In 1664 an extensive castle was
erected at Portmore, near
Portmore Lough,
County Antrim by
Lord Conway, on the site of a more ancient fortress. It contained
accommodation for two troops of horse.[1]
The old oak is believed to have stood on the estate of Portmore Castle.

The melody of this song was first published 1840 in Bunting's
"Ancient Music of Ireland" and was collected from the playing of Ulster
harper Daniel Black in 1796.[2]
The air is probably as old as the time of the O'Neill's of Ballinderry,
who, due to declining fortunes were forced to sell the property to Lord
Conway. The first verse appears to make reference to this sale.[3]

A Scottish version laments the loss of a lover left behind at
Portmore, which
William Tait identifies with (St.
Fillans).[4]
(There is also a Portmore Loch in the
Scottish Borders). While attributed to Donald Cameron,
Burns biographer Alan Cunningham believes it comes from the north of
Ireland.[5]
Peter Buchan published a version which formed the basis of Burns'
"My Heart's in the Highlands"...[5][6]

“If you are lonely,
please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know
you can find hope. If you are poor in spirit, please know you can be
strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know you can be
mended.”

From
My Niece, Shari, of VA - 03/10/18 - "Wishing you a happy Saint Patrick's Day"
(#2 in a Series of 8):

Thank
you, Shari! Happy St. Patrick's Day to
you!

From Wayne Agee
('58) of FL -
02/12/18 - "ONE WORD ESSAYS ... Beautiful!" (#22 in a Series of
26):

May your
troubles be less...

May your
blessings be more...

May nothing but
happiness come through your door.

Thank
you, Wayne!

Awe

BONUS IRISH CROCHET PATTERN:

Beaded Shamrock Doily
- "This Beaded Shamrock Doily has vintage style with its
delicate form and beading. This free crochet doily pattern will bring a bit of
elegance to your table this St. Patrick's Day. It could also be a beautiful
heirloom or gift."

BONUS IRISH KNIT PATTERNS:

Knitting Bee's80 + Free Aran
Knitting Patterns- "The Aran sweater takes its name from the Aran
Islands off the west coast of Ireland. A traditional Aran
Sweater usually is off-white in color similar to a sheep's wool
and is made from 100% wool..."

BONUS IRISH RECIPES:

Margaret Johnson'sIrish Recipes
- "Margaret Johnson is perhaps the most prolific Irish-American
writer of topics dealing with Irish food and drink. Holding dual
citizenship in the US and Ireland, Margaret is the author of
five
Irish Cookbooks, An Afternoon Tea cookbook titled 'Tea
and Crumpets', and has authored more than 200 food and
travel articles in a number of publications, including the
"Irish Echo," "Irish America Magazine," the "Los Angeles Times
Syndicate," "Newsday," and Dublin's "Food and Wine" magazine."

2. Wednesday, March 14, 2018 -The NNHS Class of June 1942
meets at noon on the second Wednesday of every other month
for a Dutch treat lunch at the James River Country Club,
1500 Country Club Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few
years makes no difference. Good conversation, food and
atmosphere. For details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for
reservations.

3. Wednesday, May 09,
2018 -The NNHS Class of June 1942 meets at noon on the
second Wednesday of every other month for a Dutch treat
lunch at the James River Country Club, 1500 Country Club
Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few years makes no
difference. Good conversation, food and atmosphere. For
details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for reservations.

Oh Bonny Portmore, you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.

Oh Bonny Portmore I am sorry to see
Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree
For it stood on your shore for many's the long day
Till the long boats of Antrim came to float it away.

All the birds in the forest they bitterly weep
Saying, "Where will we shelter or where will we sleep?"
For the oak and the ash they are all cutten down
And the walls of Bonny Portmore are all down to the ground.

Oh Bonny Portmore, you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.